Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 October 2021
31. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is satisfied with the uptake of the rural regeneration scheme; the number of the schemes that have been completed; and when she expects to have the next round of the rural regeneration scheme. [50031/21]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications
Three calls for Category 1 and 2 applications have been undertaken so far. To date, 164 projects have been approved for funding of €252m for projects costing over €343m.
In April this year, I announced funding of €81 million for 25 landmark projects costing almost €100 million from the third call for Category 1 applications.
The third call for Category 2 applications closed on the 30th July 2021. My Department received 53 applications to this call. The application process for the Fund is competitive in nature. Applications are currently being assessed by my Department under the oversight of the Project Advisory Board, comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and independent experts. Once that process is complete, my Department will prepare a report setting out recommended projects and my role as Minister will be to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding. I expect to announce the successful projects before the end of 2021.
I expect to announce the fourth call for Category 1 applications in the coming weeks.
